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Denver film festival puts focus on Colorado with red-carpet premiere

One of the region's largest cultural events, the 36th Starz Denver Film Festival launched its 12-day marathon of galas, tributes and movies Wednesday night. Last year, the festival attracted 58,000 attendees.

When the festunfurls its red carpet this year, it will add another honored guest: Colorado.

For the first time in the festival's history, a locally produced movie — and a homegrown story to boot — will have a gala of its own when the documentary "Hanna Ranch," directed by Mitch Dickman, has its world premiere Saturday at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House.

"It's part of our mission and part of our responsibility as the leading film organization in the region to bring our own filmmakers in front of the audiences and celebrate their work," Denver Film Society festival director Britta Erickson said.

The hot-ticket slot should inspire aspiring area filmmakers. More significantly, it signals the role the festival has in leveraging industry alliances and nurturing the local film community.

Under the guidance of film commissioner Donald Zuckerman
, Colorado is positioning itself to compete with other states.

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In May 2012, the legislature approved a film-incentives bill, and the state now offers a 20 percent cash rebate for production costs incurred here. The program was allocated $800,000 to give out in 2013-14.

By contrast, New Mexico offers a 25 percent tax credit, with additional in-state production incentives, and has a hefty $50 million to give out annually. Utah offers a 25 percent tax credit and $6.79 million to give out annually.

Production companies are responding. In June, the indie film "Dear Eleanor," featuring Jessica Alba, shot in Longmont and Denver. And in September, "Fast & Furious 7" spent nearly $12.9 million filming at Pikes Peak and Monarch Pass, according to the Office of Film, Television and Media.

"When the governor appointed me, he asked me to come up with a plan, see if it worked," Zuckerman said. "After the plan was in effect for a little over one year, we were able to provide metrics that demonstrated the plan's validity. At the same time, there was a buzz from many cities and towns throughout the state about their positive experiences with film crews and film spending."

Gov. John Hickenlooper's proposed 2014-15 budget includes $5 million for the Office of Film, Television and Media.

The activity adds a spring to the annual Starz Denver Film Festival, long the public face of the state's film community.

Not as star-studded as Cannes, Toronto or Sundance, or as internationally renowned as the Telluride Film Festival, Denver's festival ranks as one of the nation's most robust regional affairs, alongside fests in Chicago and California's Mill Valley.

"Hanna Ranch" brings it all home.

The documentary recounts the story of Kirk Hanna, a third-generation El Paso County rancher who committed suicide in 1998. Journalist Eric Schlosser, who included a chapter about Hanna's commitment to sustainable ranching in his 2001 best-selling book "Fast Food Nation," is an executive producer.

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